3-6 pages in 12-pt type 1250 words about a paragraph from an article.

Close reading is a critical reflection in the logic, multiple meanings, and inferences in a text. You certainly can refer to other parts of the paper from which you have selected a passage, and you can refer to other theorists. This is not a research paper, so no references ti secondary resources are required or recommended. Also, your paper need not be thesis-driven: I am more interested in your exploration of issues and possible approaches to questions rather than in conclusions.  Define the terms and explain the passage and relate it on whole about the article.